Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Rare Tea Co.

Tea Description:

A bespoke blend created for the RAF. When only the best will do.

But don’t take our word for it. Here is comedian Alexander Armstrong explaining why RAF Tea is worth it.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I just received my package of tea from Rare Tea Co. today, and before brewing this splendid Royal Air Force blend, I perused the Rare Tea Co. website to learn a little more about the tea.  While I was there, I clicked on the link above (this one), watched the video and had a really good laugh thanks to Alexander Armstrong.

And now that I’ve tasted this tea, I have to say that Mr. Armstrong is right.  This is delicious.  And, yes, it does taste like tea.  But, I don’t think you visited this website today to hear me reaffirm the words of Alexander Armstrong.

When I opened the package I noticed that the leaf looked a bit like a Darjeeling, or at least a blend containing Darjeeling.  And after reading the website, I found that it is, indeed, a blend that contains a Darjeeling tea as well as an estate tea from Malawi.  So, I brewed this with not quite boiling water (200°F) and steeped for 2 minutes.

The results are marvelous.  The tea is rich with fruity high notes and I taste a hint of muscatel.  The Satemwa estate tea in this blend provides a strong, malty character.  The tea is sweet with bright fruit tones and the caramel-y taste of the malt.  These two teas meld together so perfectly, creating a very full-bodied, rounded taste.  It is bold enough to serve first thing in the morning, and smooth enough to serve as an afternoon tea.

This tea does take to the additions of milk and sugar well, but, I find this to be quite lovely served without additions.  It is nice iced, too, although I think the cooling process seems to dull the flavors somewhat.  For the best flavor, serve hot.